Fly reel

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a fly reel, comprising a reel body portion (1), a line holder (2) journalled to the body portion (1) and rotatable relative thereto, a rotating linkage (A), as well as a transmission system (B) between the rotating linkage (A) and the line holder (2) for transmitting the rotating motion of rotating linkage (A) into the rotating motion of line holder (2). The rotating linkage (A) is provided with elements (13, 15, 16) for disconnecting transmission whenever a fly-fishing person no longer contacts rotating linkage (A) to produce the rotating motion of line holder (2) and transmit power. Thus, the reel crank does not rotate even if line were running out of the reel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fly reel, comprising a reel bodyportion, a line holder journalled to the body portion and rotatablerelative thereto, a rotating linkage, as well as a transmission systembetween the rotating linkage and the line holder for transmitting therotating motion of the transmission linkage into the rotating motion ofthe line holder whenever a fly fisher is in a power-transmitting contactwith the rotating linkage for the rotating motion of the line holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The reels for fly fishing rods include a line holder or a spoolrotatable by means of a crank around a horizontal center axle thereof.The reels are usually designed in a manner that the line holder isrotatable around an axle mounted in the middle of a left-hand end plateincluded in the reel. A crank for rotating the line holder is fastenedto a right-hand end plate included in the reel and the crank movement istransmitted through the intermediary of gears fitted between theright-hand end plate of the reel and the line holder into the rotatingmotion of said line holder. The crank rotates as line is unwound fromthe reel.

When a lure has caught a large fish, such as a salmon, such a fish mayswim at a speed of up to 100 km/h upstream or downstream carrying thelure along. The line runs out of a reel at the same speed and,therefore, the crank of a reel rotates at such a high speed that a gripmust be released from the crank. The rotating crank is also easilycaught by a piece of clothing, and, if the fisherman is rowing a boat,for example, by the boot legs. It also strikes fingers when handling thereel. The result is often breakage or tangling of the line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the fly reel of the present invention the above drawbacks are avoidedby providing the rotating linkage with means for disconnecting thetransmission as the application of a force is stopped. When the line isreeled in a line holder, a force producing the rotating motion of theline holder includes, in addition to a component force acting on thecrank and in the direction of rotating motion, a component force whichis perpendicular to the plane of rotating motion and , in the presentexample, acts towards the reel body portion. When the grip is released,a return spring included in the rotating linkage serves to return thepivoted lever to a neutral position to stop rotation of the crank and,thus, to facilitate handling of the fishing tackle.

The invention will now be described with reference made to theaccompanying drawings, in which

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows reel according to the present invention partially cut awayat a right-hand end plate;

FIG. 2 shows the reel of FIG. 1 in a side view; and

FIG. 3 shows the reel of FIG. 1 in a side view and with an end plateopened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a fly reel of the present invention includes inthe present embodiment as main components a reel body portion 1 having aline holder 2 fitted inside of it. The reel portion is provided withleft-hand and right-hand reel end plates 3 and 4 which, by virtue of thearched shape thereof, provide a box-like assembly together with lineholder 2. The reel is designed in a manner that the line holder 2 isrotatable around an axle 5 mounted in the middle of left-hand end plate3. A crank comprising handle 8 and lever arm for rotating the lineholder is fastened to right-hand end plate 4 of the reel through theintermediary of an auxiliary block 10. The movement of crank handle 8 istransmitted through the intermediary of this rotating linkage Ajournalled to the body portion and a transmission system B fittedbetween right-hand end plate 4 of the reel and line holder 2 into therotating motion of line holder 2.

The line holder 2 includes two circular and flat holder walls 21 and 22which are perpendicular to axle 5 and spaced from each other. The wallsare connected to each other by means of a sleeve-like member, a lineholder shaft 20. When the reel is in an assembled condition, the reelaxle 5 is fitted inside the line holder shaft 20. The line holders offly reels are narrow and they have a large circumference for a holder toaccommodate a sufficient amount of line.

As shown in FIG. 1, a rotating linkage A for transmitting the rotatingmotion of the crank comprises, in addition to crank handle 8, a leverarm 9 as well as an auxiliary block 10, that is, a lever housing, forlever arm 9. Lever arm 9 is attached and linked to auxiliary block 10pivotably by means of a pin at a linking point 11. The linking point 11is located at the first, edge of auxiliary block 10 and the second edgeof the auxiliary block, the opposite edge in terms of linking point 11,is provided with a recess 12. When line is reeled in line holder 2, thecrank is urged towards reel body portion 1, the lever arm 9 beingpressed into recess 12. Auxiliary block 10 is rotated as the crank isrotated. The rotating linkage A is mounted on right-hand end plate 4 ofthe reel by means of a sleeve-like and flanged attachment element.

Rotating linkage also includes means 13, 15, 16 for disconnectingtransmission, comprising two elements 13, 16 between lever arm 9 and atransmission system B, elements 13 and 16 extending parallel to the axisof rotating linkage A and adapted to be movable relative to each otherfor establishing a transmitting connection. In addition, the elements 13and 16 are provided with a preferably spring-like element 15 for therelative displacement thereof in axial direction for releasing thetransmitting connection.

Lever arm 9 is fitted with another pin-like element 13 which is parallelto the axis of rotating linkage A. By its second end said element 13 isfastened to lever arm 9 at a small distance from lever arm linking point11, in the present example by means, of a pin, and by its first end itis supported by spring-like element 15. The element 13 is furtherprovided with fastening means 14 extending therefrom for supporting thelongitudinal, reel body portion 1 facing lower edge of lever arm 9. Inthe present example, the fastening means 14 is provided by a transversepin extending through element 13 and including end members whichprotrude from said element 13 and provide said fastening means 14.

In the present embodiment, a transmission system B includes gears 6 and7. According to FIG. 3, the reel includes a first gear 6 which isremovably mounted on the end of line holder shaft 20 by means of pins.This gear is driven by a larger-diameter second gear 7 which is set inparallel relationship with first gear 6 thereabove. Second gear 7 isfastened to a first element 16 included in rotating linkage A andextending parallel to the axis of rotating linkage A, said fasteningbeing effected by means of a pin running transversely through saidelement The first element extending parallel to the, axis of rotatinglinkage A is provided with an axial cavity 17 opening towards lever arm9 and intended to hold spring-like element 15 and said second element 13extending parallel to the axis of rotating linkage A. When the rotarymovement of the rotating linkage is transmitted through element 13 toelement 16 and further into the rotating motion of gears 6 and 7, theresult will be the rotation of line holder 2.

According to the present invention, the operative connection betweenrotating linkage A and transmission system B is resolved in a mannerthat the lever arm 9 facing edge of element 16 is provided with twogrooves which provide profiled sections 18 for engaging fastening means14 formed on element 13. When the line is to be reeled in line holder 2,the crank handle 8 is pressed towards the reel, whereby the lever arm 9is pressed in recess 12 formed in auxiliary block 10, as alreadydescribed above. At the same time, lever arm 9 presses element 13towards the bottom of cavity 17 in element 16 and fastening means 14carried by element 13 is pressed against profiled section 18 and slide,upon rotating the crank, to the bottom of profile sections 18 and isfixed behind locking surfaces 19 included in the profiled sections andextending substantially parallel to the axis of rotating linkage A.Thus, the rotating motion of crank handle 8 is transmitted to element 16so as to rotate line holder 2. The speed of a line may be, for example,1.5 times the rotating speed of the crank. When the grip from crankhandle 8 is released, the spring-like element 15, which in the presentexample is a coil spring fitted between element 13 and element 16,returns the lever arm 9 to a position for releasing the fastening means14 from locking surfaces 19 and the rotating motion of crank handle 8and lever arm 9 stops despite the fact that line is still running out ofline holder 2. The rotating motion of line holder 2 only rotates thecrank movement in a pressed-down position of the lever arm. In otherwords, when line is freely running out of the reel, the crank 8 does notrotate. The invention is not limited to the above embodiment but it canbe modified within the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:
 1. A fly reel comprising a reel body portion, a rotatable lineholder journalled to said body portion and rotatable relative thereto, arotatable linkage rotatably mounted to said body portion and rotatableabout an axis, transmission means connecting said rotatable linkage withsaid line holder for transmitting rotating motion of said rotatablelinkage into rotating motion of said line holder, and crank meanscomprising and a lever arm connected to said rotatable linkage and ahandle mounted at one end of said lever arm, said rotatable linkageincluding interconnection means for connecting and disconnecting saidcrank means from said rotatable linkage, said interconnection meanscomprising:a first elongated member having an axis extending parallel tothe axis of said rotatable linkage and having inner and outer endportions and an axial cavity extending lengthwise thereof, said innerend portion being fixedly secured to said transmission means, and saidouter end portion extending toward said crank means; a second elongatedmember axially aligned with said first member and positioned within saidaxial cavity, said second member having inner and outer end portions,said outer end portion of said second member being fixedly secured tosaid lever arm of said crank means and including means for drivinglyengaging said outer end portion of said first member when said lever armis moved in an inward axial direction; and, spring means mounted withinsaid cavity and extending between the inner end portions of said firstand second members to urge said second member axially outward fordisengaging said crank means from said transmission means.
 2. A fly reelaccording to claim 1 wherein said rotatable linkage includes a leverhousing, having first and second opposite edges, said first edge beingpivotally linked to said lever arm and said second edge having a recessfor movement therein of said lever arm toward said reel body portion. 3.A fly reel according to claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises acoil spring mounted between said inner end of said first elongatedmember and said inner end of said second elongated member.
 4. A fly reelaccording to claim 1 wherein said first elongated member of saidinterconnection means is provided with at least one profiled section atsaid outer end portion thereof, and said second elongated member of saidinterconnection means is provided with at least one fastening means fordrivingly engaging said profile section and for providing apower-transmitting connection between said crank means and saidtransmission means.
 5. A fly reel according to claim 1, wherein saidtransmission means comprises a first gear connected to said rotatablelinkage to rotate therewith, and a second gear mounted parallel to andmeshing with said first gear, said second gear connected to said lineholder to rotate therewith.
 6. A fly reel according to claim 5 whereinsaid first and second drive gears have a transmission ratio of firstgear:second gear of at least about 1:1.5.